someone else.
She just felt lucky that things hadn’t been worse. And now here she was, hanging out with Ford. That was the best kind of silver lining she could imagine. When she stepped into the cool water, a sense of peace invaded her. Since moving to Miami she didn’t think she would ever want to leave. For the first time in pretty much ever, she felt at home, like she belonged. She loved her parents and where she came from, but Miami was where she was supposed to be. She knew that bone deep.
“I have a confession to make,” she said as she reached Ford. The water splashed around her waist as she moved farther out.
“Oh yeah?” His voice seemed a little deeper than normal and way more sensual.
Shivers skittered over her skin. “You’re not the only one named after something.” Or in her case, someone. “My mom had a crush on Ronald Reagan and named me after him. She apparently spelled my name wrong at the hospital and that’s how I ended up with the ‘e’ and ‘a’ reversed.”
His mouth curved up, sending another bout of butterflies off in her stomach. “Your name fits you.”
“Thanks. Can I ask you something?” When he tensed she figured he thought she’d ask about his brother. But that was the last thing on her mind.
“Sure.”
“Are we ever going to talk about that kiss?” Because she really, really wanted to. If she didn’t remember how he’d tasted, how his lips felt against hers, that little groaning sound he’d made, she might have questioned whether it happened at all.
It was clear she surprised him. He scrubbed the back of his neck. Water rolled down from his arm, making soft splashing sounds. “I was worried that maybe I took advantage of you this morning.”
Laughing lightly, she cut through the water so that only a foot separated them. She slid her sunglasses on top of her head so she could look at him and was glad when he did the same. She didn’t want any barriers between them. “I liked it. A lot.” Maybe that wasn’t polished of her, to come out and say it, but she didn’t care.
“I did too.” His gaze dropped to her mouth, his eyes going heavy-lidded as he moved even closer. The water was clear enough today that she could see his hand moving toward her. When he loosely gripped one of her hips, she completely closed the distance between them.
And came right in contact with his erection as her body drew flush against his. She wasn’t sure why she was surprised, but it shocked her a little. In the best way possible. There were a dozen or so people around them in the near vicinity but no one closer than thirty feet so they had plenty of privacy.
“I’d like to take you out. On a date,” he added, as if to make it clear.
She had to squint a little because of the bright sunlight glinting off the Atlantic. “I’d like that too.” Excitement danced out to all her nerve endings. She’d dated since moving to Miami, but she hadn’t slept with anyone since…ugh, her sophomore year of college. Sex had just seemed overrated. Or more likely, she’d been with the wrong guys. Being this close to Ford, close enough to kiss him again, she had a strong feeling that sex with him would be incredible.
“Tonight?” he murmured, rolling his hips once against her.
Heat flooded between her legs. That sounded perfect. “Y—oh, I can’t. I’ve got a stupid thing to go to. With a friend .” And she hated that she’d agreed to be her friend’s date. Part of her wanted to cancel, but that was a crappy thing to do to a friend. Plus, she’d promised.
For a moment his jaw tightened and she remembered that he’d been in her cousin’s office when she’d told them she had that thing tonight. She wondered if they’d mentioned who she was going with.
Gah. “Tomorrow instead?” Because she didn’t want to wait to go out with him.
His eyes were on her mouth again as he nodded and she felt that heated look all the way to her toes. “I’ll pick you up around